Illegal immigrant jose zarate is charged with seconddegree murder in her death. The handgun that used belong to the bureau of Land Management ranger who reported it stolen from his car one week before kate steinle was shot. Deputy District Attorney diana garcia said the handgun would not go off accidentally as a defense has claimed. Theres going to be a baseline question that the jury is going to answer. The question is, whether the defendant intended to fire that can. We have a charge against him of murder. That is what we believe the evidence is going to show. We are talking about a gun with history of accidental discharges. It does not have a safety on it. It is marketed that way. This case set off a nationwide debate over sanctuary cities since jose zarate has been released from a San Francisco jail even though federal immigration authorities wanted him to stay in custody. He had been deported five times previously. However the judge in this case has barred any mention of the polit
Stranger to law. Is that correct . Thats correct. He spent time in prison and had some arrests here locally and hes certainly someone were glad to have off the street tonight. Reporter hell be booked into the lake county jail. Im juliette goodrich, kpix5 news. A Defense Strategy is emerging in the high profile kate steinle murder case, attorneys making their Opening Statements today. Kpix5s phil matier was in court and, phil, the aspect of the shooting that made National Headlines is not even a factor, is it . Reporter thats right, ken. What were talking about is kate steinle and she was shot in San Francisco and it became a center of national debate. It was part of the president ial debates, as a matter of fact, the whole question of people being here undocumented and how many of them are criminals. Remember, donald trump trumpeted it. Well, he also trumpeted the steinle case and that led to kates law in congress, but in the courtroom this isnt about public opinion. This is about evid
Kate steinle and said she is dead because of jose zarate pointing the gun at her and pulling the trigger. She said he put the gun in a bag and walked away. Jose zarate was arrested one hour later. Immigration wanted to deport him but the San Francisco arabs office desk the San Francisco office and weeks later that happened. When its all summed up and said and done there is going to be a baseline question that the jury is going to answer. The question is, whether the defendant intended to fire that can. We have a charge of murder. That is what we believe the evidence will show. Reporter the gun was stolen earlier out of the car. It belonged to arranger of the federal bureau of land management. The defense argued that jose zarate didnt steal the gun but found it on the peer and that it discharged accidentally and that he never intended to harm anyone. We are talking about a gun with a history of accidental discharge. It does not have a safety on it. It is marketed that way. Reporter now,
A description of the shooter has not been released. We have our investigators talking to not just the driver, but when we can, the two passengers and interviewing them for what they may have seen. Reporter this is now the third shooting this month in which uber drivers were of all. In this shooting earlier this month, two passengers an traffic the driver was hurt on the shooting on i80 in oakland. According to uber, the three incidents are not rare relating related to each other. They said that incidents are deeply concerning and have reached out to the drivers and pastors involved to check on their wellbeing. Anyone with any information call the San Francisco police or the chp. A car thief who police say ran over and killed his victim in san lorenzo this weekend has now been arrested. Officials took 40yearold Victor Martinez alvarez in custody. On thursday morning, the gorilla went outside to one of the struggle for going back inside his home. When he returned, police say the suspect
Sir, hang on one 2nd. Sir, were going second. Sir, were going to the woman in the scarf. Were going to the gentleman in the green shirt and then well come straight to you, sir. I promise you, sir accident well come straight to you. Sir. Let him ask the question. Ive been waiting for all let him ask the question. Be compassionate. Its not going to cost anything. The representative from oes said it would not charge homeowners to remove the foundations of their homes, but they do have the option to move forward to their own to do their own full cleanup if they disagree with the official findings. People who lost their homes have two options, let the government do most of the work or people can opt out and choose to do the work themselves, but they have to do it to government standards. Now we heard several times today officials dont want people to opt out. They say the government knows how to do the work safely and more quickly and that would be better for everyone. So hard on these folks